How do you prune the verbena Purple Homestead?

Shearing for Flowers and Spread After the first flush of bloom fades – you don’t need to wait for every flower to die back – cut the entire plant back by half. The plant is forgiving, shear both the old flowers and the foliage with shears sterilized with household antiseptic cleaner or rubbing alcohol.

When should I prune my verbena?

Garden care: In cold conditions Verbena bonariensis can suffer dieback if cut back in autumn, so it’s best to leave the plant until spring and cut back the old growth when you see the new shoots emerging at the base.

Will verbena rebloom if cut back?

Whether annual (tender) or perennial, verbena plants do not have to be pruned but can benefit from periodic and seasonal trimming. Annual verbena can be deadheaded or trimmed periodically throughout the year to encourage fresh new growth and flowers.

Do you have to deadhead verbena?

Deadhead faded flowers or blooms to ensure that blooming continues all through the gardening season. But, deadheading is necessary if you plant verbena for summer blooms. If the blooms slow, trim the whole plant by a quarter for a new show of flowers in 2 to 3 weeks.

How do you care for Homestead Purple verbena?

Verbena Plant Care Prefers full sun in well-drained soil. Must cut back spent blossoms to encourage new blooms. Remove top 1/4 of plant periodically to force new buds. Plants will have a sprawling habit which can be trained into a more compact shape through regular pruning.

Should you prune verbena?

While verbena plants require less pruning than other herbs and perennials, they do need some occasional trimming to keep them neat and to encourage new growth. The most intense pruning will occur in early spring. In the summer, you can remove some of the height of the plant to encourage flowers to blossom.

How do you make verbena bushy?

Verbena can grow very quickly, so you may need to trim it back to control growth throughout the season. To do this, cut about 2 inches (5.1 cm) off the ends of the plants where you want to control growth. You can do this about 2-3 times over the season or as needed. This is called tipping the plant.

Is verbena poisonous to dogs?

While some species of the verbena family, such as lantana, are considered toxic to dogs, lemon verbena is generally safe unless your dog consumes large amounts. Known interactions can include kidney irritation, so you may want to reconsider planting lemon verbena if your dog is an avid chewer with kidney problems.

Does verbena reseed itself?

One of the more common annual charmers is verbena. Verbenas produce copious seeds and will reseed themselves in ideal climates. However, for those that get a sustained freeze, it might be best to save seed and then sow in spring.

What to do with verbena after flowering?

Trim the entire plant by one-quarter of its height. Cut back from the top of the plant, not the bottom. Within 15-20 days, you will have new blooms and growth to replace the old growth. This usually only needs to be done once after the first bloom.

Do verbena flowers come back every year?

Verbenas are long blooming annual or perennial flowers that possess the virtues of heat tolerance and an extremely long bloom season. Many perennial verbenas are relatively short lived, but their vigor and heavy flowering make up for this defect.

Does Homestead verbena spread?

Purple Verbena Flower Growing Conditions In optimal conditions, Homestead Purple lives approximately three years, reaches a height of 12 inches and spreads 18 inches, notes Calloway’s Nursery.

Where can I find homestead purple verbena plant?

Homestead Purple is listed as a cultivar of Verbena canadensis, which grows wild throughout the southeast, including all of Arkansas, and ranges as far north as Zone 5 in Iowa. The species is a perennial, but a temperamental one that is very particular about its exposure and drainage, especially during the winter.

What kind of verbena is purple in color?

Verbenas, which grow as both annuals and perennials, are known for their drought and heat tolerance and long blooming season. Homestead Purple (Verbena canadensis “Homestead Purple”) is one of the showiest and most vigorous.

When is the best time to trim a purple verbena?

Trimming your purple verbena at the right time enhances flowering and prepares the plant for seasons ahead. Winter pruning benefits many plants, but not purple verbena. This is especially true during unpredictable coastal winters.

What kind of verbena is best for ground cover?

For gardeners looking for a purple verbena ground cover, the ‘Homestead Purple’ cultivar (Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’) is a popular option due to its long blooming season. This variety is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, notes Heritage Perennials.